This is a topic I've toyed with whether I wanted to write about or not and have hesitated to comment on in the past week, especially in light of seeing how very passionate many people I know are regarding it. Having studied politics for a couple of years and participated in some pretty heated debates from other informed minds, especially during my A-Level years, I've had many-a-opportunity to realise that many of these arguments do not have conclusion. Nonetheless, here I am, writing this blog.
The death of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher divided a nation. One could argue, not equally.
The debate rages on as some celebrate her death and others mourn. Further discourse takes place regarding those who rage and how they were truly affected by Thatcher's apparent tyranny that they were not alive to experience. I am not here to add to this debate nor fight a particular side but to, instead, take a look at another side of the coin.
Whenever anybody passes, my immediate thoughts are almost always regarding those that they have left behind. That might be parents, children, a spouse, friends. Either way, more often than not, there is at least someone who remains to mourn that person's death. Even in the case of the world's most wanted (and perhaps, hated?) man, Osama Bin Laden.
Vile comment after vile comment posted on social networks, celebratory street parties held before her body was even cold and everything else made it very clear that Margaret Thatcher was a woman who most certainly made a difference. In the eyes of these people, a difference for the worse. But whatever she did, has been done and she is now gone and thus, in my opinion, these acts are belated and in vain.
Except for that someone/s. Margaret Thatcher leaves behind a family and many friends/acquaintances, as will be clear by the turnout at her funeral on Wednesday. It is these people, not Margaret Thatcher, who these words will pain. People who were, mostly, not responsible nor played a part in any of Margaret Thatcher's political decisions that evoked such outrage.
I can't force anybody to respect the dead and, truthfully, I don't think it makes a difference to them whether we do or not. For they are gone and, whatever you may believe in they no longer walk amongst us (unless you believe in ghosts, of course). So, with that said, perhaps it wouldn't be too much to ask if we could just respect those who have done nothing wrong to us, the family's of Margaret Thatcher. For it is they who are forced to bare the scorn and, if we're honest with ourselves, have done nothing wrong to us at all.
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I guess if you are coming from a community that has been decimated by the results of Thatcherism and again by the current government, the feeling of distaste and hatred is real. The protest however we want to see it for some is cathartic. The picture is a lot bigger than her family. Unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. Especially on your last sentence. I guess when you become any sort of public figure, whether politics, celebrity or anything else, part of the (perhaps selfish) sacrifice you make is not taking to account how your actions will inevitably affect any that are connected with you.
DeleteOn the whole, I understand the reasoning, the events that have fuelled the actions and by no means would I say they're unjustified. For me its just the family point. I'd hate for my family to be vilified for my acts that they did not participate in.